The activities in this section are applicable for individuals aged 5-10.
Please note that some of the activities in this section may require adult supervision and assistance
Table of Contents
- Print a Fish!
- Whale of a Mobile!
- See the Sea Shrimp!
- Jet Boat!
- I Haven't the Foggiest Idea!
- Definition Match and Symbol Identification
- Jumble Words
- Mystery Phrase!
- Plant or Animal?
- Word Scrambles
- Answer Key: Definition Match and Symbol Identification
- Answer Key: Jumble Words
- Answer Key: Mystery Phrase!
- Answer Key: Plant or Animal?
- Answer Key: Word Scrambles
Print a Fish!
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
This activity comes from an ancient Japanese tradition called gyotaku (pronounced ghio-ta-koo). In Japanese, the word gyo means fish and the word taku means rubbing. This rubbing or printing technique is still used in Japan for fishers to record their catches.
This technique has evolved over time and is now recognized as an art form throughout the world. You will create a beautiful fish print that you can display in your room or classroom.
You may want to try using different types of paper for this activity. Thinner paper (tissue paper, rice paper) will show more details of your fish, but they tend to wrinkle much more easily when wet. Thicker paper (construction paper) is easier to handle, but will not allow for a detailed fish print.
You may need to practice this activity several times to get the technique down. Be patient and you will discover that the more you practice, the more detailed your fish prints will become.
Things You'll Need:
- 1 whole fish (you can buy your fish from the fish department of a grocery store)
- newspaper
- paper towels
- newsprint (check out an art store or hobby store)
- water-soluble paint (liquid tempera paint or artist's acrylic paint)
- paint brush
- masking tape
Let's Get Started:
- Wash the fish with soap and water.
- Lay the fish on a sheet of newspaper. Paint one side of the fish with the paint (any color will do, although blue works great!). If you need to, you can thin your paint with some water. Stroke the fish from tail to head (the ink will catch under the scales and spines and will improve the print, especially if you use a thin coat of paint).
- Paint the fins and tail last, since they tend to dry out quickly. Do not paint the eye.
- If the newspaper under your fish becomes wet while you're painting, move the fish to a clean sheet of newspaper before printing. If you don't your print will pick up leftover splotches of color.
- Carefully and slowly lay a sheet of newsprint over the fish. Taking care not to move the paper, use your hands and fingers to gently press the paper over the. Press the paper gently over the fins and tail. Be careful not to wrinkle the paper or you will get a blurred or double image.
- Slowly and carefully peel the paper off. Paint the eye with a small brush. Tape the print to a wall and allow to dry.
- Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly when your are done with warm water and soap.
Whale of a Mobile!
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Making a whale mobile is a fun way to celebrate Oceans Day. The steps below tell you how to make paper whales using the Japanese art of paper folding, origami. Since whales live in groups, make lots to keep the first one company. Then attach the whales to two sticks to make a mobile. Hang it up to show your friends!
You'll need:
- square sheets of paper
- scissors
- a black marker
- thread
- two straight sticks (about 30 cm. long)
- two pieces of string (about 30 cm. long)
Getting Started:
- Fold a square of paper in half to form a triangle. Unfold.
- Fold again so that one side of each triangle rests along the centre line, creating a long point.
- Fold the tip of the short point down to meet the other tips.
- Fold in half again along the original centre fold so that the loose edges are on the inside.
- With the paper as shown, fold the upper corners to the inside and the tail diagonally upward.
- Using scissors, cut a slit in the tail halfway down and fold each piece to the outside. Add eyes and a mouth with a black marker.
- Poke a small hole in the top of the whale. Put a long piece of thread through the hole and tie a knot.
- With a piece of string, tie two sticks together to form a cross. Then tie the whale to the mobile. Be sure to space out the other whales so the mobile will be balanced. Finally, use another piece of string to hang your mobile up. A masterpiece!
See the Sea Shrimp!
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Things You'll Need:
- brine shrimp eggs (available from any pet store)
- non iodized or kosher salt (available at most grocery stores) 2
- litre pot or large bowl
- water
- teaspoon
- medicine dropper
- magnifying glass
- ged tap water (see below)
Let's Get Started:
- Fill the pot with water and allow it to sit for 3 days, stirring it occasionally.(Most city water has chlorine in it, which will kill the shrimp. By letting it "age" for several days the chlorine gas can escape from the water).
- Mix 5 teaspoons of non iodized salt with the water until dissolved.
- Add ½ teaspoon of brine shrimp eggs to the salt water and place the pot in a warm spot.
- Use the medicine dropper to remove some eggs from the water and observe them with your magnifying glass. Check a drop of water everyday. You may wish to create a series of drawings or illustrations to record the growth of your brine shrimp.
What happens:
The brine shrimp eggs will begin to hatch in about 2 days. They will continue to grow in the water until they reach their adult stage. You will be able to watch this growth period over several days.
Brine Shrimp eggs that are purchased at a pet store are the fertilized eggs of very tiny animals called brine shrimp. The eggs you purchase are dried and can be kept for a very long periods of time. When they are added to the salt water, the eggs "wake up" and begin to grow. Brine shrimp eggs are sold as fish food for aquariums.
Jet Boat!
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Some sailors just don't have the time or patience to let their crafts drift on the gentle breezes. For these captains, there is the balloon-powered jet boat, perfect for racing in pools, ponds or bathtubs. To make one, you'll need a ½-inch diameter plastic pipe elbow (ask at your local hardware store), two 5-1/2 by 8-inch Styrofoam food trays, a balloon and a rubber band.
Directions:
Thread the nut on the plastic pipe elbow, cut a hole in the bottom of one of the trays, and push through the elbow's non-threaded end. Stretch the balloon over the threaded end. Secure the elbow underneath the tray with the rubber band, wrapping it around several times. Cut a rudder from the second tray, and insert it through a slit cut in the stern of the boat. To operate your vessel, inflate the balloon by blowing into the elbow. Block the end of the pipe elbow with your finger as you set the boat in the water, then release it and watch the boat zip away!
I Haven't the Foggiest Idea!
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Fog is related to oceans? In what way? Quite simply, fog is made from water. Check it out:
Fog in a Bottle
It's so easy ...
- Fill a large jar or wide-mouthed bottle to the top with hot water (you may want to get a parent or teacher to help you with this part).
- Pour most of the water out, except for an inch (25mm) or so on the bottom.
- Set a strainer over the mouth of the jar, and put ice cubes in the strainer.
Before long, the cold air from the ice cubes will cause the water to condense from the warm, moist air in the bottle forming ... you guessed it ... fog!
Definition Match and Symbol Identification
Health Canada
Definition Match
1. Flammable
2. Corrosive
3. Poison
4. Explosive
5. Quick skin-bonding adhesive
- Licking, eating, drinking, or sometimes smelling this product can cause illness or death.
- These "super glues" can glue skin with skin.
- This product, or its fumes can catch fire easily if it is near heat, flame or sparks.
- This container can explode if it is heated or punctured
- This product can burn skin or eyes, or throat and stomach, if you drink it.
Symbol Identification
Jumble Words
Natural Resources Canada
Unscramble the following words and, using the highlighted letters, find the secret word!
- Y G R E N C L C I
- I T A N - G D L N I I
- G G T H I L I N
- M S T C O P O
- R O T H S E T M T A
- R U N T F O F
- Y E R E G N
Secret word:
Mystery Phrase!
Natural Resources Canada
? & ! % &
! !
% ! % % & £
# @ ! ? % % + ! & + @ !
# % @ & % ! ¥
+ !
£ @ * %
? # * @ @ £
How to play:
In the following table, each symbol represents two letters. Use this code to find the mystery phrase!
| ! | @ | # | $ | % | ? | & | * | + | = | ? | £ | ¥ |
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
| N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
Plant or Animal?
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Is it a plant or an animal?
Does the food product come from a plant or an animal?
- Bread slice
- Egg
- Tofu
- Milk
- Eggplant
- Asparagus
- Corn
- Rice
- Pita
- Chicken
- Beans
- Peanut
- Steak
- Fish
- Apple
- Cucumber
- Cheese
- Potato
- Broccoli
- Shrimp
Word Scrambles
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Easy
- H S F I
- A S L E
- E L E
- R A B C
- N D A S
- I S D U Q
- E N C A O
Medium
- L M C A
- L E P K
- O N O L
- F E R E
- L G L U
- C O R A
- T O B A
- N U T A
- R H K A S
- I N L A S
- E T R O T
- H E W L A
- R C A L O
- C B A H E
- B C A S U
- G E A L A
Hard
- L T R E U T
- R L A S U W
- I R M N A L
- S M E U L S
- N A L S O M
- H P L I N O D
- H R N W A L A
- G L A B U E
Answer Key: Definition Match and Symbol Identification
Definition Match
1. Flammable = This product, or its fumes can catch fire easily if it is near heat, flame or sparks.
2. Corrosive = This product can burn skin or eyes, or throat and stomach, if you drink it.
3. Poison = Licking, eating, drinking, or sometimes smelling this product can cause illness or death.
4. Explosive = This container can explode if it is heated or punctured
5. Quick skin-bonding adhesive = These "super glues" can glue skin with skin.
Symbol Identification
Answer Key: Jumble Words
- RECYCLING
- ANTI-IDLING
- LIGHTING
- COMPOST
- THERMOSTAT
- TURNOFF
- ENERGY
Secret word: CLIMATE
Answer Key: Mystery Phrase!
START
AN
ENERGY
CONSERVATION
PROGRAM
IN
YOUR
SCHOOL
Answer Key: Plant or Animal?
From a plant:
- Bread slice
- Tofu
- Eggplant
- Asparagus
- Corn
- Rice
- Pita
- Beans
- Peanut
- Apple
- Cucumber
- Potato
- Broccoli
From an animal:
- Egg
- Milk
- Chicken
- Steak
- Fish
- Cheese
- Shrimp
Answer Key: Word Scrambles
Easy
H S F I = fish
A S L E = seal
E L E = eel
R A B C = crab
N D A S = sand
I S D U Q = squid
E N C A O = canoe
Medium
L M C A = clam
L E P K = kelp
O N O L = loon
F E R E = reef
L G L U = gulf
C O R A = orca
T O B A = boat
N U T A = tuna
R H K A S = shark
I N L A S = snail
E T R O T = otter
H E W L A = whale
R C A L O = coral
C B A H E = beach
B C A S U = scuba
G E A L A = algae
Hard
L T R E U T = turtle
R L A S U W = walrus
I R M N A L = marlin
S M E U L S = mussel
N A L S O M = salmon
H P L I N O D = dolphin
H R N W A L A = narwhal
G L A B U E = beluga